During the school year, the Department of Communication & Media Relations produces a media tip sheet called "News You Can Use, which is distributed to metro Atlanta news outlets electronically. This publication provides school and system news, including recent honors, upcoming events, calendar items, and photo opportunities at local schools and central office locations. The tip sheet is sent out at the end of each week, and covers news and GCPS items of interest for the coming 7-10 days.View All Archived News You Can UseNews You Can Use…A Gwinnett County Public Schools Tip Sheet For The News Media03/13/2006 - 03/19/2006

HONORSMarie Marchant at G.H. Hopkins Elementary was recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children as Special Education Teacher of the Year for GCPS. For more information, call 770-564-2661.

Ryan Nelson of Centerville Elementary will represent Georgia at the 18th Annual Asian-Pacific Children's Conference in Fukuoka, Japan this summer. He is sponsored by the Japan-America Society of Georgia and will spend two weeks with a host family in Fukuoka. The conference brings together children from around the world to promote cultural understanding. Ryan is one of six students selected to represent the state from among more than 700 applicants. For more information, call Kimberly Adcock at 770-982-6976.

Lilburn Middle’s Kevin Darnell and Huyen Nguyen have qualified to advance to state competition in the Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge, a vocabulary contest for middle school students, on March 20 at Warner Robbins near Macon. For more information, call 770-921-1776.

Five North Gwinnett DECA students participated in the Georgia State Marketing Credentialing Program and earned their credentials through the Georgia Department in Education, the ASK Institute, and the Sales and Marketing Executives of Atlanta. The students are Kristen Carney, Courtney Kennedy, Christian Morris, Alexandra Steeves, and Karen Wieloch.

Tina Kurhaneqicz, amember of the Mill Creek High Future Business Leaders of America placed 2nd in Computer Applications at the Region Leadership Conference. She will go on to compete for Mill Creek High at the State Conference in March.678-714-5850.

A number of Maxwell High School of Technology students placed at the SkillsUSA Regional III competition and will advance to state competition in April. First-place winners are Bradley Chatham, Arturo Diaz, Brandon Hamilton, Jacob Kliessendorff, Samantha Reynolds, Jarel Sanders, Patrick Sewell, and Brittney Smith. Second place winners are Daniel Dawson, Jeffrey Edwards, Chris Fail, Robert Landreth, Osvaldo Morales, Paul Ricks, Celeste Staples, and Kenyatta Watson. For more information, call 770-963-6838.

UPCOMINGBrookwood High special education students will host a visit from Steve Tracey, Snellville Home Depot Manager, on March 14 from 11 a.m. to noon. Home Depot is a job training site for the students. Mr. Tracey will facilitate an informational class on getting a job and working. He is bringing a pizza lunch for the students. For more information, call Jessica Houck at 770-972-7642.

Parkview High will sponsor a College Fair in the cafeteria and old gym on March 16 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. There is no charge for this event and no registration is required. For more information, visit www.parkview.netor call Nancy Hamel at 770-921-2874.

Grayson Elementary will hold its final session of Grayson Parent Academy on March 21 from 7 to 8 p.m. Parents are invited to “Understanding Standardized Testing” to get information about tests students will take in April. For more information, call 770-963-7189.

The Grayson Elementary PTA will host an Annual Mother/Son Event on March 24 with dinner at 6 p.m. This year’s event is “Dinner & Movie.” Moms and sons will enjoy a dinner catered by Frontera Restaurant, followed by a movie in the gym. For more information, call 770-963-7189.

Alton C. Crews Middle will host the school’s “8th annual Technology Fair" on March 21 at 5:30 p.m. This event is for the whole family. For more information call 770-982-6940.

Mill Creek High will host several events in March. · The Tri-M music honor society will hold a charity dinner on March 24 at 7:15 p.m. at Mill Creek High. The dinner benefits the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, which provides instruments to needy students in the U.S. Tickets are $30 per person and $55 for a couple. Dinner will be served in the Commons area with food provided by The Fieldhouse. · The talent show will be held on March 25 at 7 p.m. in the school theater.· The Mr. Mill Creek contest will be held on March 30 from 6 to 9 p.m. For more information on any of these events, call 678-714-5850.

The Dacula Community will benefit when the Gwinnett Gladiators host the South Carolina Stingrays on the ice at the Arena at the Gwinnett Center. The puck drops at 4:05 p.m. on March 26. The Dacula High Marketing department is planning activities for the event. Discounted tickets ($12 for regular $16 tickets) are available at the school or order on-line at www.gwinnettgladiators.com/gwinnett/tickets/daculahs.asp. The Gladiators are donating $2 per discounted ticket to benefit the Dacula Relay for Life, Dacula Academic Foundation, and Student Council. In addition, March 26 is Public Safety Night at the arena. Police cars, police motorcycles, fire trucks, a smokehouse trailer, and more will be on display. For more information, call Tammi Maness at 770-963-6664.

The Brookwood High dance department has been selected to participate in the National High School Dance Association Festival at the New World School of the Arts in Miami, Fla., on March 29 through April 2. The dancers will perform a classical pointe work entitled “Femmes” set to “Concerto for two Pianos” by Francis Poulenc. For more information, call 770-736-4360.

RECENTLYLilburn Middle hosted the East Division Middle School Basketball Tournament at Meadowcreek High. The top eight middle school boys and girls teams competed. The Trickum Middle Lady Tigers, coached by Tim Yates, won the girls, title. The Richards Middle Black Knights, coached by Ron Hickman, won the boys’ title. For more information, call the individual schools.

Recently hundreds of parents, students, and faculty members gathered at Summerour Middle’s first annual Black History Month celebration, entitled “Come Share the Dream.” This event showcased several student performances including a Wax Museum, filled with students portraying famous, African-Americans in history. The audience was treated to the sounds of a saxophone soloist and the lyrical voice of an up-and-coming professional singer. The guest speaker, Keith Duvall, kept the crowd captivated, reminding everyone of the dream that lies within them. While watching these events, unfold the crowd feasted on a variety of foods. In addition, Dr. Mary Kay Murphy, District III Board member, joined the celebration.

Charles Brant Chesney Elementary welcomed the Georgia Sea Island Singers in March. The performers pay tribute to African American heritage with a lesson in history, creativity, and survival. They shared a portion of our nation’s history of slavery by engaging their audiences with the spirited songs, games, and dances created by slaves and preserved for more than 200 years in isolated island communities of the southern coastal regions of the United States.

GCPS TV“Remember the Ladies” - Live Colonial Williamsburg Electronic Field Trip. In 1776, Abigail Adams requested that her husband, future president John Adams, “remember the ladies” when establishing the government and laws of the new nation. Examine the roles, responsibilities, and daily activities of early American women. This 60-min. program airs live, March 16 at 10 a.m. and repeats at 1 p.m.

“Tree-mendous Technology” - E3 Electronic Field Trip. During this Electronic Field Trip, students will go into a forest canopy with Dr. Jess Parker, head of SERC's Forest Ecology Lab, to learn about forest ecology and the technology available to study it. This 90-min. program airs March 13-15 and March 17-18 at 1 p.m.

“Spanish for Educators” A GCPS TV original series, this 10-part program is an introduction to the Spanish language and is tailored especially for educators and other school employees. Viewers will learn key phrases and basic vocabulary for use during the school day and in the community. Each Monday, a new segment will air at 11 a.m., repeating daily through Sunday in that time slot. The series runs through March 19.

Tune in to Gwinnett County Public Schools’ educational access channel for education programs and information. TV cable channels and providers include:Adelphia on Channel 20 (Ch. 97 without converter) BellSouth on Channel 21Charter on Channel 22 Comcast on Channel 24For more information, call the GCPS Broadcast and Distance Learning Department at 678-985-5233, or e-mail gcpstv@gwinnett.k12.ga.us. A list of this week’s programming may be found on the GCPS Web site-- www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us.

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FOR YOUR CALENDARMarch is Music in Our Schools Month, National Middle Level Education Month, National Nutrition Month, Social Work Month, Women’s History Month, and Youth Art Month.

March 10 is a student holiday.

March 13 is a snow make-up day and school will be in session.

The following Gwinnett schools will hold Local School Council Meetings during March. Call the local school for the time and meeting place.

School

March

Sycamore Elementary

3/2

Dacula High

3/3

Fort Daniel Elementary

3/3

Lanier Middle

3/7

Duncan Creek

3/9

Jackson Elementary

3/9

Norcross Elementary

3/9

Snellville Middle

3/9

North Gwinnett

3/14

Riverside Elementary

3/14

South Gwinnett

3/15

Alcova Elementary

3/16

Chesney Elementary

3/17

Grayson Elementary

3/17

Gwin Oaks Elementary

3/17

Mason Elementary

3/17

Osborne Middle

3/17

Parsons Elementary

3/20

Bethesda Elementary

3/21

Harbins Elementary

3/21

Creekland Middle

3/23

Collins Hill Elementary

3/27

McConnell Middle

3/27

Harris Elementary

3/28

Britt Elementary

3/30

Jones Middle

3/30

Sweetwater Middle

3/30

McKendree Elementary

3/31

Simpson Elementary

3/31

Gwinnett County Public Schools wishes to meet the needs of all of its students and families. If any member of your family needs assistance or has any questions regarding mobility impaired issues or handicapped access, please contact the principal of your local school.